Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s Universal School Meal Program, known as Dishi na County, has significantly boosted school enrollment by 34%.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that the Dishi na County feeding programme has increased the number of children enrolled in primary schools within the county, from 250,000 before the program began to 310,000.

“Enrollment has now skyrocketed to 310,000 learners in our schools,” he said.

Sakaja also pointed out that over 184,000 learners are fed daily, with each paying Sh5 for the program.

According to Sakaja a rate of one out of four Kenyan learners is not attending school due to hunger, with some being forced to save food for their siblings and parents.

Sakaja emphasized the need to also increase the number of classrooms in the county, which is currently building 500 for ECDE learners at a cost of Sh1 million.

On March 27, Sakaja presided over the groundbreaking of seven central kitchens, which will ensure all subcounties have a central kitchen under the Dishi na County programme.

The seven kitchens are located in Dandora 1 Primary School, Donholm Primary School, Mutuini Primary School, Uhuru Gardens Primary School, Ndururuno Primary School, Umoja 1 Primary School, and Zawadi Primary School.